Maersk sends triple-E to Russia for bunkering, reveals phase-in schedule for second jumbo

Maersk Line this week revealed that the second of its ultra-large triple-E container vessels will join the carrier’s AE10 Asia Europe service at Busan on 12 of August. The ship will phase-in four weeks after the service entry of the series’ lead ship MAERSK MC-KINNEY MOLLER and it will take the place of the 9,661 teu BUTTERFLY, which Maersk sub-chartered from CMA CGM as a stand-in for the damaged EMMA MAERSK. In contrast to earlier reports, which suggested that MARY MAERSK would be the second triple-E to enter commercial service, the Danish carrier now shows MAJESTIC MAERSK as ship number two.

Furthermore, another interesting detail has been revealed: Maersk Line will follow Hamburg Süd’s recent example with the CAP SAN NICOLAS and send the MAERSK MC-KINNEY MOLLER to the Russian Far East for bunkering. Sending newbuilt ships from South Korea on an ‘extended sea trial’ to either Vladivostok or Vostochny to take advantage of lower-priced bunker fuels in Russia appears to be a new trend and seems to catch on. So it is not unlikely that the MAJESTIC MAERSK will follow down the same path in early August.